Shohei Ohtani’s Former Teammate David Fletcher Caught Playing

Getty Image/Allen J. Schaben

The situation involving the alleged embezzlement and gambling of the Los Angeles Dodgers P/DH Shohei Ohtani silver by his former interpreter Ippei Muzuhara was one of the strangest sporting stories in recent memory. The revelation Friday that his former Angels teammate, infielder David Fletcher, was also betting with the same bookmaker raised eyebrows.

Given that Ohtani and Fletcher shared a clubhouse with the Angels for six years, one can understand why this muddies the waters a bit.

First, the facts. Here’s ESPN with more.

David Fletcher, a former Los Angeles Angels infielder who currently plays for the Atlanta Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, and his friend, who also played in the minor leagues, both bet on sports with the sportsbook of Southern California who took the bets of the longtime interpreter of Shohei Ohtani. , according to several sources detailing the activities.

Fletcher, who was Ohtani’s teammate from 2018 to 2023 and has been described as one of his closest friends in baseball, placed a bet with Mathew Bowyer’s bookmaking business, according to sources. Ohtani’s former performer, Ippei Mizuhara, also made bets with Bowyer and ultimately stole nearly $17 million from the Japanese superstar to feed his addiction, according to prosecutors.

Fletcher’s close friend Colby Schultz, who played in the Kansas City Royals system from 2018 to 2020, bet on baseball, including on Angels games that Fletcher played in while he was in the team, multiple sources told ESPN.

Fletcher bet on several sports but not baseball, according to multiple sources.

So according to ESPN, someone was one of Ohtani’s very close friends with the Angels and was involved with the same sportsbook that Ippei was involved with? I won’t judge any further conclusions, as investigators have cleared Shohei Ohtani of any wrongdoing in the scheme that they say saw Ippei unknowingly drain more than $16 million from Ohtani’s bank account to having played with bookmaker Matthew Boyer.

What is most concerning is that Fletcher’s close friend Colby Schultz was betting on Angels games in which Fletcher was involved. Again, it would be unfair to make assumptions about what exactly was going on here. But there are certainly things left up to interpretation.

The scandal didn’t affect Shohei Ohtani at all. Although he couldn’t pitch this year due to Tommy John surgery, he still made a huge impact for the Dodgers.

He currently leads the National League in hits, home runs, batting average, slugging and OPS. After signing the largest contract in baseball history with the Dodgers this offseason, the early returns to the field are great.